Whenever traditional Katutura rivals Orlando Pirates and Black Africa football clubs compete against each other, almost the entire township comes to a virtual standstill.
While many football pundits may argue that the other local derby between Katutura glamour football club African Stars and reigning Namibian champions Black Africa should take centre stage in terms of attendance – the BA/Pirates derby just has that something extra that cannot be described in written words.
Both sets of supporters, plus the neutral fan relish the prospect of some bravado off the field and equally adrenaline-pumping displays on the pitch, while the build-up to this particular derby ignites football followers to the extent that family members feel obliged to put aside family ties with loyalty taking precedence.
With BA poised for an unprecedented consecutive fourth league title – the Ghosts are well placed and have a decent chance to deny their rivals the glory of rewriting the history books by becoming the first football team to achieve that rare feat in domestic football.
In fact, Ali Akan’s youthful brigade could be forgiven for thinking it’s up to them to determine the ultimate destination of the championship. The Ghosts take the short trip to confront BA in a potential league decider at the Sam Nujoma Stadium tonight at 19h00.
In today’s special edition of our weekly feature Tales of the Legends, New Era Sports takes a diagnose of past encounters between the two traditional rivals and some of the players that played a pivotal role by always rising to the big occasion whenever the situation demanded in these titanic clashes.
WINDHOEK – It’s a well-documented secret that in recent seasons Pirates have been made to live in the shadow of their more illustrious neighbours in terms of cup success.
Available statistics would reveal that the Gemengde outfit has enjoyed the lion’s share of victories in most of their league encounters against the Buccaneers over the last couple of seasons in the country’s flagship league. Since Namibia’s independence in 1990, BA has won the league more than other teams in the business with seven titles to their credit as opposed to Pirates’ two titles in the inaugural edition in 1990, and the 2007/2008 season.
Mathematically, Pirates are within a shot of leapfrogging BA at the summit and a must win result snatching victory for the unpredictable Ghosts will propel them on the path to lay their hands on the elusive league title for the first time since the 2007/2008 campaign. Ironically, the Ghosts’ last league title triumph arrived under the stewardship of former BA blue-eyed boy Dawid Snewe. BA boast the highest number of points in a single league campaign – courtesy of the 56 points garnered in the 1999 term that saw them claim a remarkable feat of 18 wins, 2 defeats and 2 draws.
In recent ties, both clubs played out a goalless draw in September 2012 but BA enjoyed the upper hand seeing off the Ghosts (2-1) via the educated boots of foot-loose winger Lovers Kamuhanga and gangling striker Kumbee Katjiteo, with Ronaldo Tsowaseb netting a consolation goal for Pirates in January last year.
The Gemengde outfit came out tops again in the corresponding fixture in December last year with Katjiteo once again on target.
By Carlos ‘CK’ Kambaekwa